Women's Pro Baseball League to Hold Historic Inaugural Tryouts

The Women's Professional Baseball League (WPBL) is set to hold its inaugural tryouts from August 22 to 25, 2025, in Washington, D.C., marking the first professional women's baseball tryouts in over 80 years. This historic event aims to select top talent for the league's debut season in spring 2026.

The tryouts will commence with three days of drill-focused sessions and athletic performance testing at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy from August 22 to 24. On August 25, the final evaluations will take place during live gameplay at Nationals Park. Over 600 players have registered for the tryouts, with up to 150 advancing to the WPBL Draft scheduled for October.

Dr. Justine Siegal, co-founder of the WPBL and the first woman to coach a professional men's baseball team, emphasized the significance of this event. "This is more than a tryout – it's a moment of long-overdue recognition for the incredible talent that has gone unseen for far too long," Siegal stated. She also expressed gratitude for the collaboration with the Washington Nationals organization, noting their support for the league and women's professional baseball.

Leading the tryouts is Alex Hugo, a two-time USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year (2019, 2024) and Team USA Silver Medalist at the 2024 WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup, where she served as team captain. Hugo, who serves as the Executive Vice President of WPBL Player Relations, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming tryouts. "We are really excited to see all of the players at tryouts this summer and see their incredible skills," she said. "We're building a future where girls and women who love baseball can dream as big as they want and now, finally, have a league to call their own."

The WPBL plans to launch its inaugural season in spring 2026 with six teams, featuring a regular season, playoffs, and a championship series. The league has also partnered with Fremantle, a leading entertainment company, to develop, produce, and distribute content, including a docuseries about the league. Assia Grazioli-Venier, a global leader in women's sports, has been appointed as the chair of the league, bringing her extensive experience to the WPBL's leadership team.

The establishment of the WPBL signifies a monumental step in women's sports, particularly in baseball. Since the dissolution of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) in 1954, there has been a void in professional opportunities for female baseball players. The WPBL aims to fill this gap, providing a platform for women to pursue baseball at a professional level.

The formation of the WPBL reflects a broader movement toward gender equity in sports. By offering professional opportunities to female baseball players, the league challenges longstanding gender norms and promotes inclusivity. This initiative is part of a larger trend, with numerous women's professional sports leagues emerging across the United States, indicating a growing recognition and support for women's athletics.

The WPBL's upcoming tryouts and subsequent inaugural season represent a significant milestone in the journey toward gender equality in sports, offering a new platform for female athletes to showcase their talents and inspiring future generations to pursue their passions in baseball.